Mercer County, OH: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$1,0082-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8071-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$81,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$102,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Mercer County is $1,008 a month, up 2.1% from $987 in FY2026. Mercer County belongs to the Mercer County, OH FMR area (non-metro county), so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in Mercer County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$762	$747	+2.0%	$686 – $838
1 bedroom	$807	$788	+2.4%	$727 – $887
2 bedrooms	$1,008	$987	+2.1%	$908 – $1,108
3 bedrooms	$1,258	$1,287	−2.3%	$1,133 – $1,383
4 bedrooms	$1,394	$1,307	+6.7%	$1,255 – $1,533

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in Mercer County that is typically $908 to $1,108 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$38,845median income of renter households

$804Median gross rent, all units

25%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

37%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $38,845 can afford about $971 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,008 is $37 (3.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $40,320 a year under the 30% rule, or $36,288 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Mercer County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$804 ±$57
Median income of renter households	$38,845 ±$6,423
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.6% ±7.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	8.9% ±3.0
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,940

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$679	$804	+18.4%
Median renter household income	$40,536	$38,845	−4.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	32.4%	36.6%	+4.2 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

HUD income limits for Mercer County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $102,400 (FY2025: $108,200, −5.4%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$21,500 ±0.0%	$24,600 ±0.0%	$27,650 ±0.0%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,850 +0.1%	$41,000 +0.1%	$46,100 +0.2%	$51,200 +0.1%	$55,300 +0.1%	$59,400 +0.1%	$63,500 +0.1%	$67,600 +0.1%
Low income (80%)	$57,350 +0.1%	$65,550 +0.1%	$73,750 +0.1%	$81,900 +0.1%	$88,500 +0.1%	$95,050 +0.1%	$101,600 +0.1%	$108,150 +0.1%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.